Improvement in tables



Patented Nov. 13, I877.

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OAMILLG KRAMER, OF GOHOES, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 197,147, dated November 13, 1877; application filed 'July 9, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known I, OAMILLO. KRAMER, of Gohoes, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented a new and useful stand or base for tables, music and: flower stands, piano-stools, and other articles supported by a stand or base, of which the following is a specification: c

This invention has, for its object the construction of a certain class; of furniture which is; held in an elevated position by means of a stand or base, such as center tables, music and flower stands, piano-stools, and other; articles. For convenience of. storing, transportation, &c., it has heretofore been attempted to make such furniture in such manner that the base (which renders such furniture bulky and difli- -cult of transportation, and, when packed, liable to be broken) may be readily detached and packed separately, or removed, or conveniently put away for storing purposes. Such devices involved the use of metallic fastenin gs, which are secured to the parts to be united by screws, nails, or other like means, or the employment of movable wedging or clamping devices, which are liable, by shrinkage, to drop out and get lost, or, by dampness, to swell to such an extent as to render the'severing of the parts thus united, extremely difficult.

By theimprovement subject-matter of this patent it is proposed to obviate these difficulties by so constructing the base or stand, and the part or parts to which the same is to be affixed, as to dispense with extraneous, or independent, or auxiliary fastening devices, such as screws, nails,.&c., while permitting of the speedy and convenient dismemberment of such furniture, and the ready packing of the same in compact form for shipment, removal, or

- storage.

7 Each letter represents the same part in all the figures.

The legs or braces A, whose general outline is that of the letter V, and which may be of any convenient number, four being shown in the drawings, are held together at their middle parts by a ring, B, so that the upper portions of the parts A, flaring out from the center, serve as braces or support for the table, flower-stand, or other article, while the lower POItiOns, also flaring outward, act as so many legs, upon which the whole rests. The ring B is formed of two or more flat pieces of wood, the grain laid in contrary directions, so as to prevent checking, splitting, or warping of the same. The interior of this ring is shaped to correspond with the formation number of the pieces A to be used-that is, on each side of a regular triangle, quadrangle, or polygon, the number of. whose sides equals the number of the pieces A, are cut a corresponding number of rectangular recesses.

In the drawings, there being four pieces of the part A, the interior is a square, on each side of which is a rectangular recess. The four pieces A fit into these four recesses, and are firmly held by the tapering pin 0, the number of whose sides also corresponds with the number of the pieces A. On the inner side of the legs or braces A are small projections, a and b, respectively, above and below the ring B, bearing against the pin 0 to strengthen the whole by increasing the length of the bearingsurface of the pin. On the outer side of the legs or braces A are projections 0 and d, that cover, respectively, the upper and lower surfaces of the ring B, and prevent the legs from being drawn through the ring.

To put these portions together when apart the legs or braces A are passed upward through the ring, and fitted each in one of the recesses, the projections c and d preventing them from moving upward or downward; and the whole is then firmly clamped by inserting the tapering pin 0 downward through the central hole, its tapering shape wedging the braces or legs into their recesses, thus forming the post or center in the ring B.

Upon the upper ends of the legs or braces A are horizontal projections e, by which the base or stand is fastened to the table-top, seat or to whatever else it may be intended to support.

In the drawings, a table-top, D, is shown, and the method of attachment is by a circular groove, f, formed in any desirable way, either recessed into the top or formed by pieces attached on the surface. This groove opens toward the center of the table, and in it are openings 9 corresponding with the number of the legs A, into which the horizontal projections 6 are entered, and the whole base bodily revolved, bringing the projections e within the groove f, or vice versa.

The upper portion or brace part of the legs A may in some instances be dispensed with by prolonging the center pin 0 to serve as the support-as, for example, when the base is intended for a music-stand, piano-stool, flowerstand, or such other small and light-topped articles.

The legs or braces A, the ring B, and pin 0 may be ornamented, curved, or formed into any suitable shape consistent with the requirements herein expressed, and they may be made of wood, metal, or other material, or partly of one material and partly of another. The projections 0 may also be varied, and with them the position of the groove f. Instead of projecting outward, as shown in the drawing, and the groove opening inward, they may be arranged vice versa; or there may be two projections and a double groove-as, for example, in a heavy article of furniture. v

If the number of legs be numerous, the an gle of wood between the rectangular recesses may be too weak to retain the parts in their places without breaking, in which case the shape of the hole as a polygon, with rectangles on its faces, is varied so as to be aregular polygon without recesses, the pin 0 being in section a similar (smaller) polygon, and the section of the legs A will then be trapezoids, their joints being radial.

Having thus described my'invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1: A stand or base composed of three or more legs held within a ring by means of a central pin, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination, with the ring and the central wedge-pin, of legs so formed as to constitute, also, the supporting-braces of a tabletop or other elevated part of furniture, substantially as shown and set forth.

3. The combination, with a stand or base consisting of the legs united by means of the ring and wedge-pin, as described, of a tabletop or other elevated part of a piece of furniture having an annular groove or groove-sections for the reception of the braces or supports, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 5th day of July, A. D. 187 7 OAMILLO KRAMER. Witnesses:

JOHN H. PECK, A. F. ROBINSON. 

